Punch verification mechanism



A ril 26, 1966 E. R. BASILE PUNCH VERIFICATION MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed March 5, 1965 W. m U L F ERNEST R. sfi fi ZW JMW ATTORNEYS April26, 1966 BASILE 3,248,047

PUNCH VERIFICATION MECHANI SM Filed March 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3

United States Patent O 3,248,047 PUNCH VERHICATION MECHANISM Ernest R.Basile, Norristown, Pa., assignor to Sperry Rand Corporation, New York,N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 437,441 13Claims. (Cl. 234-33) This invention relates to punching devices and moreparticularly to a mechanism for verifying that a punch has undergone anintended punching stroke.

In many punching operations it is important to check and see if aparticular punching action, in fact, took place. Thischeck-ingoperat-ion is often referred to as punch verification. In codedpunching devices, where a particular hole pattern represents aparticular item of information, a verification operation takes on addedimportance, and has become almost indispensable in todays high speedcoded punching machines.

One common verification method is to wait until an item has beencompletely punched and then either cmpare it with a master or perform areading operation to see if the item reads as intended. This method hastwo particular drawbacks The first is that two separate time consumingoperations are requireda punching operation and a compare operation. Thesecond major drawback is that use of the punched item is not onlyundesirably delayed, but when a punching error is detected it isoftentimes necessary to repunch all of the media that has beenpunchedbetween the time of the error and the detection thereof. In a high speeddata processing system it is the input-output mechanism that is usuallythe slowest element of the system; that is to say that the punchingoperation itself is too slow. Hence, the time lost in the punch-comparetype of verification is often intolerable because it adds still anothertime consuming step to the inputoutput sequence.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel punchverification mechanism that operates during the actual punching strokewhile the punch is still in the punched media.

Although various types of punch verification devices have been designedto verify during the punch stroke punch stroke verificationnone of themhave been entirely satisfactory. Some of these devices have employedcomplicated systems of levers, springs, and sensing elements. Inaddition to their being generally too slow for use with high speedpunches, these devices have been plagued with vibration and wearproblems. Theoretically, the best solution thus far has been to shine alight beam somewhere between the punch and the media to be punched sothat the beam impinges upon a light sensitive device such as aphotocell. As the punch enters the media -during the punching stroke thelight beam is interrupted and the output from the photocell drops. Inthis manner the output from the photocell is used to verify the punchstroke; but the photocell verification systems have not beensatisfactory either.

A certain amount of punching dust is inherent in any punching operation.After a relatively short period of punching the photocells become socovered with punching dust that they become incapable of performingtheir intended function. Moreover, the light sources employed have, ofnecessity, been very small and have either been relatively expensive orof a short life span. As a practical matter, therefore, the photocelltypes of punch stroke verification systems have led to a great deal ofmachine down-time.

Accordingly, it is another object of this invention to provide a punchstroke Verification mechanism that is not sensitive to punching dust.

3,248,047 Patented Apr. 26, 1966 Another object of this invention is toprovide a punch stroke verifying apparatus that has relatively long-lifecomponents. 7

Present day data processing machines have been developed on a modularbasis. That is, a given basic element of a particular data processingsystem can be combined with another basic element, so as to rapidlyincrease the capacity of that particular system without installinganother new system in its entirety. For example, the addition of amultiplexer may double or triple the input capacity of a processinginstallation without any substantial changes being made in the processoritself. Similarly, it is desirable that a punch stroke verificationcapability be easily added to a particular installation 'as the speedand accuracy requirements of that installation increase. One of thedisadvantages of the prior art punch stroke verifiers has been the needto incorporate them into the basic structure of the punching machineitself. That is, it has been rather impractical to modify an existingpunching machine to accommodate the present day punch stroke verifiers.In the case of photocell verifiers, for example, it has been necessaryto place the light source on one side of a punch mechanism and thephotocell on the other. In most cases this requires that the internalstructure of the punching mechanism itself be modified.

An advantage of the instant invention is that, where a modular conceptis desired, an existing punching .mechanism can be modified to obtainpunch stroke verification without any wholesale changes of the internalstructure of the punch mechanism itself.

In accordance with the principle of the invention a pressure sensitiveelement senses fluid pressure in a conduit across which the punchelement travels during each punching stroke. As the punch moves duringthe punch stroke the resultant change in pressure in the conduit isreflected in a change in the output of the pressure sensing element.This change in output is used to indicate the position of the punchingelement and to verify that a desired punching stroke is taking place.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a punching mechanism accord ing to a preferredembodiment of the invention with a portion of the side thereof brokenaway and the punch element being shown in its retracted state;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but with the punch element shown during thepunch stroke in its most extended position;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the invention,partially broken away, and also showing the punch in its most extendedposition during the punch stroke.

One embodiment of the invention will now be briefly described withreference to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings. A punch element 2 isslidably located within a punch guide channel 4 of a punch block 6. Aspring 8 embraces a portion of the punch element and operates on aflange thereof (not shown) to urge the punch element into its mostretracted position as shown in FIG. 1. The punch element has a blade 10located on one end thereof and a head member 12 located on the otherend.

Although any suitable type of selective punch drive means could beemployed, the embodiment being described has the punch thereof driven bya continuously totating cam 14 mounted on a shaft 16, through aninterposer member 18. With the interposer moved to the right in FIG. 1rotation of the cam will have no effect upon the punch. When theinterposer 18 is moved to the left in FIG. 1, into a position betweenthe punch and the cam,

malfunction.

rotation of the cam will force the interposer and punch downwardlyagainst the force of spring 8, whereby the blade enters die portion of adie block 22 as shown in FIG. 2. As the blade of the punch enters thedie block it cuts a chip 24 out of a punched medium 26 while the lattermoves through a space 28 between the punch block and the die block.

A conduit 30 traverses the punch block and intersects the punch guidechannel 4 as shown in the figures. An aperture 32 in the punch elementis'aligned with the conduit 30 when the punch is in its retractedposition as shown in FIG. 1. Also aligned with the conduit and fastenedto the side of the punch block is a coupling 34 which, in this preferredembodiment, has a flexible tube 36 attached thereto.

A fluid block 40 has a plenum chamber 42 located therein. Some suitablefluid, in this embodiment air, is contained under pressure in the plenumchamber. The air is free to bleed from the plenum chamber through exit44 and an orifice 46 into a conduit 48 extending to the right side ofthe fluid block 40 in FIG. 1. A pressure sensing conduit 50 intersectsconduit 48 and connects the conduit 48 to a recess 52 wherein is locateda pressure sensitive switch 54. The switch may, for example, be apressure sensitive electrical switch of the type wherein the electricaloutput thereof changes in response to some predetermined pressure level.

A coupling 56, mounted on the right side of the pressure block in FIG. 1connects conduit 48 to the flexible tube 36. In this manner air from theplenum chamber 42 is permitted to bleed therefrom through the exit 44,through orifice 46 and into conduit 48. From conduit 48 the air isconducted throughtube 36 into the left side of conduit 30 in the punchblock; through the aperture 32; out conduit 30 on the right side of thepunch block; and into the free air as shown in FIG. 1. At this time thepressure on the switch 54 is substantially equal to that in the plenumchamber, minus the drop across the orifice 46.

Whenever it is desired that medium 26 be punched,

the interposer 18 is inserted between the Punch head 12 and the cam 14.As the cam revolves, the punch, through interposition of the interposer,is. driven downwardly by the punch drive as shown in FIG. 2. In thisposition,

and as the medium is being punched, the aperture 32 in i the punch is nolonger aligned with conduit 30. At this time air is no longer permittedto escape through the right side of conduit 30 andthe pressure in theleft side of conduit 30 (as well as in tube 36, conduit 48, and sensingchannel 50) undergoes a rapid surge upwardly towards the pressure-in theplenum chamber 42. This rapid pressure rise is sensed by switch 54causing its output level to change. This change in output provides anindication that the punch is at that moment within the punching medium.The pressure switch output is used to vertify that the desired punchingoperation is in fact taking place.

Whenever a punching operation occurs and a simultaneous verticationsignal is not received from the pressure switch, action can be taken atonce to correct the Hence, the invention has obviated the problem ofrepunching media that have been punched betwe n the time an error ismade and the time it is detected. Moreover, the punched mediacan-immediately be used in subsequent operations without performingseparate readout or compare steps to verify punching accuracy.

The greatest portion of the dust that occurs during a punching operationdoes so during the time that the punch cuts the media. In the normalpunching device the retraction of the punch element after it completes apunch stroke causes a vacuum in the area about the medium whereby thedust is drawn into the punching mechanism. It is this dust that coatedthe photocells of prior ,art punch stroke verification devices thereby 4rendering them inoperative. In the instant device a slight bit of air ispermitted to leak past the blade of the punch element to blow the dustout the die portion 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Moreover, because thepressure switch 52 is located upstream from the punchingthereof.Consequently, almost any punching mechanism can be readily modified toinclude a punch stroke verification merely by adding a pressure moduleof the type just described.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention and willnow bedescribed. In this embodiment, instead of separating the pressureswitch from the plenum chamber by an orifice, the pressure witch isseparated from the plenum chamber by the punch itself.

Using the same numbers to describe parts that are similar to those ofFIGS. 1 and 2: a plenum chamber 42 delivers air through a conduit 48 anda flexible tube 36 into the left side of conduit 30 in punch block 6. Inthis embodiment, and by Way of illustration only, the aperture 32 isaligned with conduit 30 when the punch element is in the most extremedownward portion of its punching stroke. At this time the plenum chamber42 is directly connected through a flexible tube 58 to a conduit 60 in aswitch block 62 and the output level of a pressure indicator switch 64(located in recess 66 connected to conduit 60) is that levelcorresponding to the relatively high pressure of the plenum chamber 42.1

As soon as the punch withdraws from the die block,

under urging of the spring 8, the right side of conduit 30 issubstantially blocked off. At this time the air that is trapped beneaththe pressure indicator switch 64 and" that from the plenum chamberbleeds by the blade of; the punch and blows the punching dust out of thedie.

portion of the die block. As soon as the air escapes e from conduit 60the output level of the pressure indicator switch drops indicating thatthe punching operation has been completed.

Because pressure switches are generally not susceptible to malfunctiondue to normal build up of punching dust,

the fact that the pressure switch 64 is located down stream from thepunch should not normally cause any difficulty. However, over a periodof time it is conceivable that conduit 60, for example, could becomesomewhat clogged and affect the accuracy or response time of thepressure indicating switch. Consequently, it may be desired to bore achannel such as 68 in the lower rtion of the punch member as shown inFIG.

3. In this manner, a greater amount of air will be. directed towards thepunch die thereby decreasing the likelihood of dust building up withinthe punching mechr anism.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in formand details may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivelcge is claimed are follows:

1. A punch vertiflcation mechanism comprising:

a pressure chamber for fluid;

a punch guide means;

a conduit adapted to conduct said fluid across said guide means;

a punch movable across said conduit between a first.

defined as i said punch is in said first position, but said punchobstructing the flow of said fluid when in said second position so thatthe fluid pressure in said conduit changes when said punch moves fromits first position to its second position;

and pressure sensitive indicating means connected to said conduit forsensing said changes in pressure thereby indicating that said punch haschanged its position.

2. A punch verification mechanism comprising:

a pressure chamber for fluid;

a punch guide means;

a conduit adapted to conduct guide means;

a punch movable across said conduit between a first and a secondposition with said guide means, said conduit being permitted to conductsaid fluid through said guide means when said punch is in said firstposition, but said punch obstructing the flow of said fluid when in saidsecond position so that the fluid pressure in said conduit changes whensaid punch means moves from its first position to its second position;

a pressure sensitive indicating means;

means for connecting said pressure indicating means to said conduitbetween said pressure chamber and said punch guide means;

and means in said conduit between said pressure chamber and saidconnecting means for restricting the flow of fluid therebetween, wherebysaid pressure indicating means senses said changes in pressure andthereby indicates that said punch has changed position..

3. A punch verification mechanism comprising:

a pressure chamber for fluid;

a punch guide means;

a first conduit adapted to conduct said fluid from said pressure chamberacross said guide means to a discharge point;

a punch movable across said conduit between a first and a secondposition within said guide means, said conduit being permitted toconduct said fluid through said guide means when said punch is in saidfirst position, but said punch obstructing the flow of said fluid whenin said second position; i

a pressure sensitive indicating means;

a second conduit connecting said pressure sensitive indicating means tosaid discharge point, whereby said pressure sensitive indicating meanssenses the changes in fluid pressure as said punch moves from its firstposition to its second position and indicates that said punch haschanged its position.

4. A punch verification mechanism comprising:

a pressure chamber for fluid;

a punch guide means;

a conduit adapted to conduct said fluid across said guide means;

a punch having an aperture therethrough and movable across said conduitbetween a first and a second position within said guide means, saidaperture being aligned with said conduit when said punch is in said saidfluid across said first position, but said punch obstructing the flow ofsaid fluid when in said second position so that the fluid pressure insaid conduit changes when said punch moves from its first position toits said second position;

and pressure sensitive indicating means connected to said conduit forsensing said changes in pressure and thereby indicating that said punchhas changed its position.

5. A punch verification mechanism comprising:

a fluid chamber for fluid;

a punch guide means;

a conduit adapted to conduct said fluid across said guide means;

a punch having an aperture therethrough and movable across said conduitbetween a first and a second position within said guide means; saidaperture being aligned with said conduit when said punch is in saidfirst position, but said punch obstructing the-flow of said fluid whenin said second position so that the fluid pressure in said conduitchanges when said punch moves from its first position to its said secondposition;

a pressure sensitive indicating means;

means for connecting said pressure indicating means to said conduit;between said pressure chamber and said punch guide means;

means between said pressure chamber and said connecting means forrestricting the flow of fluid therebetween, whereby said pressureindicating means senses said changes in pressure and thereby indicatesthat said punch has changed position.

6. A punch verification mechanism comprising;

a pressure chamber for fluid;

a punch guide means;

a first conduit adapted to conduct said fluid from said pressure chamberacross said guide means to a discharge point;

a punch having an aperture therethrough and movable across said conduitbetween a first and a second position within said guide means saidaperture being aligned with said conduit when said punch is in saidfirst position, but said punch obstructing the flow of said fluid whenin said second position so that the fluid pressure in said conduitchanges when said punch moves from its first position to its secondposition;

a pressure sensitive indicating means;

a second conduit connecting said pressure sensitive indicating means tosaid discharge point, whereby said pressure sensitive indicating meanssenses the changes in said fluid pressure as said punch moves from itsfirst position to said second position, said pressure sensitiveindicating means thereby indicating that said punch has changed itsposition.

7. A punch verification mechanism comprising:

a pressure chamber for fluid;

a punch guide means;

said punch guide means being comprised of a punch block and an adjacentdie block, a punch guide channel extending through said punch block andsaid die block;

a conduit intersecting said guide channel and adapted to conduct saidfluid across said guide channel to a discharge point;

a punch movable across said conduit between a first and a secondposition Within said guide channel, said conduit being permitted toconduct said fluid through said guide means when said punch is in saidfirst position, but said punch obstructing the flow of said fluid Whenin said second position so that the fluid pressure in said conduitchanges when said punch moves from its first position to said secondposition, the space between said punch and said punch guide channelbeing suflicient to permit said fluid to bleed past said punch and outof said die block when the punch obstructs the flow of fluid throughsaid conduit;

and pressure sensitive indicating means connected to said conduit forsensing said changes in pressure and thereby indicating that said punchhas changed its position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said punch has an aperturetherethrough, said aperture being aligned with said conduit when saidpunch is in said first position, but said punch obstructing the flow ofsaid fluid when in said second position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said pressure sensitive indicatingmeans is connected to said conduit between said pressure chamber andsaid punch guide means;

and including means between said pressure chamber and said connectingmeans for restricting the flow of fluid therebetween.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 including a second conduit and wherein saidpressure sensitive indicating means is connected by said second conduitto said discharge point.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said indicating means is connectedto said conduit between said pressure chamber and said punch guidemeans;

and including means between said pressure chamber and said connectingmeans for restricting the flow of fluid therebetween.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 including a second conduit connecting saidpressure sensitive indicating means a to said discharge point.

13. A punch verification mechanism comprising: a pressure chamber forfluid; a punch guide means;

said punch guide means being comprised of a punch block and an adjacentdie block, and having a punch guide channel extending through said punchblock into said die block; a conduit intersecting said punch guidechannel and adapted to conduct said fluid across said guide means; apunch having an aperture therethrough and movable across said conduitbetween a first and a second position within said guide means, saidaperture being aligned with said conduit when said punch is in saidfirst position, but said punch obstructing the flow of said fluid whenin said second position so that the fluid pressure in said conduitchanges when said punch moves from its first position'to its secondposition;

a biasing means urging said punch towards said first position;

cyclic drive means; an interposer adapted to be selectively insertedbetween said cyclic drive means and said punch, said drive means beingoperative to drive said punch towards said second position against theforce of said biasing means when said interposer is inserted betweensaid a drive means and said punch and said drive means being ineffectiveto drive said punch when said interposer is not inserted between saiddrive means and said punch;

means permitting said fluid to leak past said punch and into said punchguide channel towards said die block when said punch is in said secondposition;

and pressure sensitive indicating means, connected to said conduit forsensing said changes in pressure and 1 thereby indicating that saidpunch has changed its position.

1. A PUNCH VERTIFICATION MECHANISM COMPRISING: A PRESSURE CHAMBER FORFLUID; A PUNCH GUIDE MEANS; A CONDUIT ADAPTED TO CONDUCT SAID FLUIDACROSS SAID GUIDE MEANS; A PUNCH MOVABLE ACROSS SAID CONDUIT BETWEEN AFIRST AND A SECOND POSITION WITHIN SAID GUIDE MEANS, SAID CONDUIT BEINGFREE TO CONDUCT SAID FLUID WHEN SAID PUNCH IS IN SAID FIRST POSITION,BUT SAID PUNCH OBSTRUCTING THE FLOW OF SAID FLUID WHEN IN SAID SECONDPOSITION SO THAT THE FLUID PRESSURE IN SAID CONDUIT CHANGES WHEN SAIDPUNCH MOVES FROM ITS FIRST POSITION TO ITS SECOND POSITION; AND PRESSURESENSITIVE INDICATING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CONDUIT FOR SENSING SAIDCHANGES IN PRESSURE THEREBY INDICATING THAT SAID PUNCH HAS CHANGED ITSPOSITION.